Denmark-Norway

Denmark-Norway was a real union of Denmark, Norway, Schleswig, and Holstein that existed from 1523 to 1533 and from 1537 to 1814. The state was formed as the result of Sweden's withdrawal from the Kalmar Union in 1523, and the abolition of the Norwegian riksrad parliament in 1537 led to Denmark and Norway forming a personal union. In 1660, the Danish riksrad was also dissolved, and absolute monarchy was confirmed on 14 November 1665 by the lex regia. The union included Denmark, Norway and its possessions of the Faroe Islands, Iceland, and Greenland (among others), Schleswig, Holstein, and the colonies of the Danish West Indies, the Danish Gold Coast, Danish India, and the Nicobar Islands. Denmark-Norway lost control of southern Sweden during the Torstenson War of 1643-1645, and it fought a series of "Northern Wars" with Sweden for control of certain regions of Scandinavia. Denmark-Norway was even occupied by Sweden during the Great Northern War of the early 18th century. In 1814, having sided with France during the Napoleonic Wars, Denmark-Norway was forced to cede Heligoland to the United Kingdom and Norway to Sweden, while receiving Swedish Pomerania in return. However, Norway instead declared independence and invited Christian Frederik, a member of the Danish royal family, to become its ruler. Sweden therefore refused to hand over Pomerania, leading to war. Sweden invaded Norway, and Norway was forced to accept a personal union with Sweden. King Christian Frederik was forced to revise the Norwegian constitution, which allowed for the creation of Sweden-Norway. Denmark-Norway now ceased to exist, with Denmark becoming an independent kingdom.